How is your average supporter supposed to deal with all this tension and gut wrenching turmoil? Out of ten games played thus far this season, the team in Red have come back from behind no less than five times and managed to go on and secure victory. Although it shows remarkable resilience, and especially against this Wigan team that really went about the home team, a point will come where being behind will prove to be one step too far. But until that time comes let’s just savor a side who kept pace with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League who earlier in the day went to Middlesbrough and gave them a pummeling with almost a whole first team missing.

Without the pace of Torres up front to cause the visiting team constellations in defense, Wigan had a first 45 minutes that will surely rank amongst their best when the season comes to an end. Without Emile Heskey for attacking company, Zaki, his Egyptian strike partner gave a display which showed who is the senior member in that set-up. On the stroke of half-time, this incredibly lively forward pounced onto a crossed ball which was well and truly behind him, rose and produced an overhead kick from close to the edge of the area which must surely be a contender for goal of the season despite Winter not yet being officially upon us. At that point and with the way Wigan had been playing it wouldn’t have been a surprise if the visiting team went on to secure a first ever victory against Liverpool.

But on 73 minutes that possible moment of history came to an end as Antonio Valencia got sent off for the second time in a week. Whether the first playing for Ecudaor last weekend was justified or not, on this occasion the midfielder can only have himself to blame for picking up a second yellow card for a badly judged tackle on Alonso after picking up his first only minutes earlier for encroaching on a Liverpool free-kick.

As a humble individual that I am, I have to admit Dirk Kuyt had his best ever game in a Liverpool shirt, but it should be noted playing in a position where he has spent practically the whole of his professional football career. Scoring his first league goals in front of a home Liverpool crowd since April 2007, the Dutchman almost had a hat-trick if Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal didn’t manage to get a finger-tip to a sweetly struck power-driver that went on to smash against the crossbar. But as it turned out the ones that did hit the back of the net, sandwiched between a first for Riera since his move from Espanyol, will hopefully give him the confidence to go on and reproduce his goal-scoring feats that he produced for Feyenoord in Holland.

Added with the first league starts this term for Pennant out on the right of midfield and Agger making a long overdue return to defensive duties after spending thirteen months out injured, the team seemed to have a much better feel about it despite some sloppy defensive work for both Wigan goals. Yes Wigan did have the best of the first half, due in part to the way in which Steve Bruce sent his team out to push Liverpool back and defend high up the field, but having those players back in the team who are comfortable on the ball, and able to produce that little something extra when in possession showed their worth with their contributions to the first and third Liverpool goals. Next weeks clash with Chelsea has all the makings of one hell of a game.